Free Bayview Heights Trilogy by Kathryn Shay Page B

it happens that young.”
    Cassie continued, “Apparently the gang let
him go because he moved. He only kept in touch with Zorro, his
buddy from childhood, who was still in the gang.”
    Mitch was skeptical. It wasn’t that easy to
get out of a gang.
    “But when they moved here, his mother
couldn’t support herself very well and could only get a part-time
job as a maid at the local motel. Now she drinks most of the time.”
Mitch remained silent. “Johnny helps support her. They get along on
that and the social security from his father’s death. But really he
has nobody.”
    “That’s why you’ve taken such an interest in
him?”
    “Among other reasons. I’m the only adult in
his life who cares.”
    “Aren’t you assuming a lot of responsibility
for this kid?” Mitch asked, immediately feeling hypocritical when
he thought of a similar responsibility he’d sought to assume a
lifetime ago. Pain needled him, exposing the memory he could
usually suppress.
    Cassie shook her head. “Maybe. But kids need
a strong adult role model in their lives if they’re going to be
resilient to the pressures of today.”
    Listening to her passionate response, Mitch
asked, “Are we still talking about Johnny?”
    She blushed. “Of course.” The pressure of her
hand on his wrist increased. It was surprisingly strong. “The point
is
that Johnny was almost completely out of the gang, but
then eighteen months ago, Zorro took over as head of the Blisters.
Gradually, he’s tried to get Johnny back, telling him he could be a
long-distance member. Even choose what things to get involved in.
Set his own standards.”
    “Gangs don’t operate with part-time members,
Cassie.”
    “I know. But it seems this one is bending the
rules because Zorro’s their leader. And Johnny flirts with the idea
of going back, especially when things get rough—like at school. Or
when he’s afraid.” She raised her chin a notch. “I’ve managed to
keep him out of most of their doings, though.”
    “While Zorro’s trying to lure him back
in.”
    Cassie nodded.
    “Does he spend time with them?”
    “Some. I can’t stop it completely. He’s got
this bond with Zorro. Like he’s family.”
    “Gangs function as family to kids like
Battaglia.”
    “They’re not his family.”
    Neither are you
. “He’s walking too
fine a line, Cassie. He’ll never make it.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    Sighing, Mitch backed away from her, stood up
and began to pace. He felt like he was picking his way through a
mine field.
    She was blind to what was really going on
because she cared about the kid too much. He tried a different
tack. “The gang is encroaching out here. You know how urban gangs
infiltrate the suburbs?”
    She shook her head.
    “From transfer students.”
    Bolting off the chair, she stood, too, and
grasped his arm. “No, not Johnny. He’s not doing that.”
    Mitch spun around to face her. “Maybe not.
Battaglia seems pretty strong. But DeFazio isn’t. They got to him
tonight through the drugs. Next, they’ll suck him into the gang.
It’s contagious. Your whole school is in danger.”
    Cassie drew in a deep breath and released his
arm. “But if you go into this gang prevention stuff now, I’ll lose
Johnny for good. He’ll never sit through lessons. He’ll never take
this from you. He already resents you.” When Mitch didn’t respond,
Cassie added, “A couple of years ago, some teachers wanted to
establish a policy that kids couldn’t get early dismissals from
school to work. They felt outside employment interfered with the
learning process. Some of us, including Seth, didn’t think that we
should make a cut-and-dried policy, but he agreed to try it. Johnny
was only sixteen, but he was working hard to help support his
mother. He got so angry at the administrative inflexibility, he
quit school for six months. Eventually, it became clear that we
needed to make some exceptions, and I got Johnny to enroll
again.”
    Mitch bit back